Microsoft, like its competitors, has a want to tie you into the Microsoft ecosystem every bit much every bit possible, with services similar Microsoft Office, Xbox, and OneDrive integrated into Windows. OneDrive, in particular, is designed to be the go-to cloud service for your Windows files and documents.

If you lot're a Windows 10 user, you'll probably detect OneDrive sitting in the notifications area on your taskbar. Information technology's hard to disable OneDrive, but there are ways to hide it and switch it off if the service isn't for you, especially if you're using a service like Dropbox instead.

Why You lot Should Consider Disabling OneDrive

There are a few reasons why you might want to consider disabling OneDrive. We'll start with the most basic—control. With every installation of Windows 10, OneDrive is installed and ready to begin syncing your Documents, Pictures, and Desktop folders.

Many users may not realize that OneDrive is doing this. By disabling OneDrive, you lot're gaining back control of your ain files, rather than storing them on a Microsoft-based server.

If that sounds unappealing, other cloud storage solutions are available for you to use instead, such every bit Google Bulldoze or Dropbox, or you tin build your own cloud storage to shop your files.

If that doesn't bother you, the affect of OneDrive on your system and network resources might. It might seem obvious, but OneDrive uses your internet connectedness to upload files to Microsoft servers. If your connection is dull, OneDrive file syncing could have an touch on your network performance or employ up your information allowance.

You lot should also exist aware that the OneDrive app starts automatically and volition run in the background unless you disable it. This will have more of a noticeable impact on low-resource PCs, so disabling OneDrive could be a good fashion to claw dorsum some CPU and RAM usage.

How To Disable OneDrive File Syncing

If y'all simply desire to disable OneDrive temporarily, the best option is to pause file syncing. This volition terminate the OneDrive app from uploading any changes to your local files to OneDrive servers, or from retrieving any changes from your online OneDrive storage.

  • To pause OneDrive syncing, printing the OneDrive icon in the notifications area of the Windows taskbar. Alternatively, launch the OneDrive app from the Kickoff carte du jour.
  • In the pop-up OneDrive menu, printing the More button, then click the Pause Syncing choice. You tin choose to disable information technology for 2 hours, 8 hours, or 24 hours—click on i of the options to proceed.

To pause file syncing for longer than 24 hours, you'll need to echo the steps to a higher place to disable it again once the initial 24-hour period is complete. Alternatively, you lot tin can cease OneDrive from syncing files from your PC by removing all of the folders that it monitors.

  • To disable OneDrive file syncing this manner, press the OneDrive icon > More > Settings. In the Account tab, press Choose folders.
  • Disable all of the checkboxes in the Choose folders menu, including Make all files available, then printing OK to salve.

This volition leave OneDrive signed in, simply information technology will stop it from automatically syncing files from your PC to your OneDrive storage. You can then terminate OneDrive from appearing in the taskbar past disabling information technology from automatically starting when you lot sign in to Windows.

  • To stop OneDrive from appearing in the taskbar, click the OneDrive icon > More > Settings, and then caput to the Settings tab. From there, click to disable the Start OneDrive automatically when I sign in to Windows option, and so press OK to save.

Once disabled, OneDrive won't load when you lot adjacent restart up your PC. With file syncing and automatic start-up disabled, OneDrive is equally skilful equally disabled, only you tin become even further by unlinking your account.

How To Unlink OneDrive On Windows x

If you desire to disable OneDrive rapidly, you can choose to unlink it. This removes your Microsoft account from OneDrive, logging yous out and preventing files from your OneDrive account from syncing to your PC (and vice versa) at all.

  • To start, press the OneDrive icon in the notifications expanse of the Windows taskbar. Click the More than choice in the pop-up menu, then click the Settings option.
  • In the Account tab of the Microsoft OneDrive settings window, press the Unlink this PC option.
  • OneDrive volition ask you to confirm that yous desire to unlink your PC from your OneDrive storage. If y'all're happy to continue, press the Unlink business relationship push button.

Once confirmed, OneDrive volition sign out on your PC. Any files that are currently synced to your PC will remain, but whatever changes won't be uploaded to your OneDrive storage—y'all'll demand to sign back in for this to resume.

How to Disable OneDrive On Windows 10

OneDrive usually comes pre-installed with Windows x, and some versions of Windows don't allow you to uninstall it. If the option is available to you lot, however, you can choose to disable OneDrive completely by uninstalling it from your PC.

  • To do this, right-click the Windows Offset carte icon and printing Settings. In the Settings bill of fare, printing Apps > Apps & Features to access your list of installed software.
  • In the Apps & Features tab, locate or search for Microsoft OneDrive, and then click on it. To uninstall OneDrive, press the Uninstall option.
  • Windows volition ask you to ostend if you desire to proceed with the removal. Press the Uninstall button to remove OneDrive from your PC.

Using Cloud Storage On Windows 10

Now y'all know how to disable OneDrive on Windows, y'all can think almost switching to some other gratuitous cloud storage platform like Google Drive. If y'all make up one's mind to proceed OneDrive running, you can fill-in of import folders to OneDrive as a built-in solution for storing your most sensitive files.

If y'all're having trouble with this congenital-in Microsoft cloud storage, and so you may need to wait at fixing some mutual OneDrive sync issues that crop upwardly from time to time. Whether you like OneDrive or loathe it, permit u.s.a. know your thoughts and recommendations for Windows 10 cloud storage in the comments below.